Sunday, November 20, 2016

The Beginning. USMC Wife Life: On Recruiting Duty.



I'm not sure how familiar, or unfamiliar, with military life you may be, dear reader. So let me paint you a picture...

Before I married in to this life I romanticized it. Think South PacificPearl Harbor, oh oh oh ---> The Lucky One! Yes, there's drama, trauma, but there is love and a studly man in a uniform (praise, Jesus!). I thought to myself, "Oh man, this love, this life, this romance, that will be my life!" Sigh...

In reality, military life is moving every few years, experiencing confusion and loneliness, and dealing with every crazy bump in the road as gracefully as you can in the moment; and when I say gracefully, I mean sometimes it's reacting like a crazy person, not intentionally because us military wives are all angels, as I'm sure you know. ;)

In 2013 my husband and I started out in Twentynine Palms, California. For those of you that are unfamiliar with that area -- it is hot, dry, and full of sand... because it is a desert... literally. Google maps it.

My being in Twentynine Palms was initially challenging because, not only am I from the gorgeous mountains of Colorado, but there is literally nothing to do. And when I say nothing, I mean, nothing. There are limited job opportunities and WAY too many bored military wives.

Luckily, I was able to plug in with a small group of INCREDIBLE women through a book club. These ladies are still some of my closest friends today. They were my main life-line out there in the desert. If you are one of those ladies who is new to the Twentynine Palms area may I recommend that you start, or find, a small book club to join. Totally worth it from my experience.

Anyway, my husband had come home from his second deployment to Afghanistan and was simply enjoying the regular 9-5 hours, Monday through Friday, at his on base job. We had a decent routine where we enjoyed a couple date nights each week and weekends barbecuing with our neighbors. Totally normal, all-American, life-style. Work hard, play hard. Until one beautifully hot, I believe it was about 106 degrees outside, Twentynine Palms day -- when my husband came home and announced he was up for recruiting duty.

Our neighbor had just come from recruiting duty and expressed to us how difficult it was. But, of course, we're an amazing team (my husband and I) so we were like, "Yah, bro, it's cool! We've got this on lock down! Easy-Peasy!"... God bless us in our sweet ignorant bliss...

In early 2014 my husband left for a few month training in San Diego while I was stuck in Twentynine Palms. After dealing with some drama from a neighbor, a flat tire, boredom and loneliness, the months passed and we finally had our orders for our next destination: MASSACHUSETTS!

July 2014, in 113-degree weather, the movers came and very efficiently packed up our entire home. We loaded into my husband's truck with my Ford Taurus in tow and we began our cross country drive to the lush state of Massachusetts! Onward to recruiting duty!... For now, I will leave you with this: after 2 years of recruiting duty the hubs and I haven't killed or left each other, as we're both alive and still married (success!).  Bad news is recruiting duty isn't over yet....


[To Be Continued...]



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